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Arrow Review: Felicity Gets Collared

I'm going to have to make a request to Arrow to stop naming its episodes after the occasional bad guy that pops up.

Just because a well-known face graces the production doesn't mean it's enough to pen the hour with a moniker in his honor, and "Dodger" was no exception. Dodger was really the least interesting part of the episode. Let's check it out!

Moira reached out to a man, Frank, who Robert confided in before he was killed. They talked about some pretty interesting things, including Frank asking if she wanted out because of what happened to Walter (we later learned Walter is still alive - finally) and Moira admitting they got into "this" to clean up The Glades, not lay waste to it. There's definitely not a lot of information forthcoming, but what was seemed to reveal that she and Robert were heading in the same direction as Oliver is with his list.

Moira's soul isn't as pure as Oliver's since she hasn't had the benefit of being put through the ringer on survival island before deciding to put things straight in Starling City. Maybe it's just Moira's attitude that is off putting and if she was given the opportunity to work for good again - say, with her son, the vigilante - she'd be a little different. Maybe. All of the revelations ultimately ended in Moira asking China White to kill Malcolm Merlyn. Could that be the tipping point sending Tommy over the edge to the dark side?

Felicity is so good for Oliver and Diggle! She lightens the mood even when it's dire, which was desperately needed, and she engages them into a competitive playfulness that drove Diggle to ask Carly out. Felicity didn't want to do anything but save Walter, yet Oliver admitted he was hoping she'd help in other ways - and she didn't immediately balk at the request. It was just moments later she was at the diner gobbling up burgers and fries like one of the team. Very good stuff here.

Why in the hell didn't Oliver notice how incredible she looked at the auction? She could have easily been a Diana Prince/Wonder Woman candidate with how stunning she was after a little sprucing up. Even sporting an exploding collar didn't take away from her beauty. Still, no love from the boys she was working so hard to help. If she had been a superhero of some sort, they would have been beside themselves due to the transition.

The first dates Diggle had with Carly and Oliver had with McKenna were a bit disappointing. Note to Diggle: Bringing up your dead brother, your date's ex, is not the best material for first date conversation. Note to McKenna: Reminding your date, the handsome, sexy Oliver, that he spent five years stranded on an island eating God knows what and had not access to restaurants or beds and had to make tough choices? Ditto on the crappy conversation lesson to Diggle! Have people forgotten how to woo?

At least Diggle got a second chance with Carly and kissing ensued, as Oliver attempted to make peace with McKenna. There is hope, although I'm not sure I want Oliver and McKenna to move forward. Diggle and Carly - go for it!

Let's talk about the new character and the villain of the week for a bit. We'll start with James Callis' turn as the Dodger. I'll just ask: why? Why bother to bring him on at all? Much like The Count and Cyrus Vanch after him, he was a little flash with very little substance. Villains are introduced and swept away in the blink of an eye, leaving very little in their wake. As Oliver puts most of them in their rightful place, I can only wonder how long the series is expected to last. Will there never be an arch nemesis?

I never worried for a second that Felicity's life was in danger. I wonder at what point I will start worrying about the main characters at the hands of the misguided baddies that hit town. It doesn't seem like it will happen any time soon, at this rate.

Hot off the heels of his departure from Teen Wolf, Colton Haynes arrived as Roy Harper, a petty thief thrust into the life to compensate for his mother's Vertigo abuse. His mugging of Laurel with Thea present left her intimately involved and once she heard about the Vertigo given her own close call with the drug, she felt a special kinship with the kid gone wrong.

At least Haynes wasn't set up to be an on-camera-gone-by-the-next-episode character. I'm expecting a friendship to develop between Roy and Thea wherein she tries to prove to him that being wealthy doesn't answer all your problems and for that to maybe spread to something a little stronger. She's been alone and made an ass out of herself with Tommy, she deserves a little attention, even if we don't quite know or trust the guy at this point.

Speaking of knowing and trusting, what were we to take away from Oliver's island flashback this week? At one time he was the guy muddied, tied up and covered in tears and Fei helped him out even though he didn't now him. At what point would Oliver make that same distinction? I have a feeling I missed the lesson, and I have no doubt someone out there will be happy to enlighten me.

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I'm really liking this show, I really am. The writing is great, the acting is fantastic, and I find myself loving probably most of the characters. But I do have one major issue with it - usually I'm the last one to jump on a ship, I rarely care about it and usually think it's over-rated and over-shadowing the rest of the plot lines. But in Arrow, I find myself in need of it. One of the biggest parts about any superhero story, is the girl. It's just the way it goes. And the fact that Arrow doesn't have it, is really starting to bother me. According to the comic, his love interest is Laurel, and when the show aired, I thought that the dynamics were really good and that it was going in a right, reasonable pace. But now, not only is Laurel pushed aside, but the love story is missing completely. Like I said, usually - I don't care (ie - TVD), but here, it is really missing.. I hope this changes soon, because I think that a huge chunk of the plot is simply missing..

This episode was one of the best since Vertigo. I'm so glad that Felicity is getting heaps of screentime. I'm enjoying the trio that she, Dig and Oliver have, as her personality really does add to the dynamic of all of their characters.Coltan Hayes has also managed to take up some acting classes, as his portrayal as Roy Harper was really well done. I noticed the sparks between Thea and he.Was hoping for some more Tommy and Laurel has last week didn't even feature him (as well as this weeks) and Laurel has been sidelined. Hopefully a change for what seems to be a really good episode next week!

JH•February 21, 2013 06:09

I think the point of the flashback story was Oliver had to make a choice: help somebody he wasn't sure he could trust and run the risk of not getting back to the other dying guy in time. A guy who gave up getting on that airplane to come back for Oliver and save him. Loyalty. Honor. Hard choices you're not sure are always the right choice. I think that was the takeaway for that particular set of flashbacks. And I actually did think there was a very small, very subtle reaction to Felicity's change of appearance from Oliver. They did that pan up from her legs with him doing a little eyebrow arch sliding into a faint dip after we saw her face. The actor seems to go for subtle over hug facial reactions which I kind of appreciate. But then, maybe it was just me. As for Roy... I wasn't overly blown away. I didn't particularly care for him and I'm really hoping I don't find him and Thea annoying. But I totally agree on the much needed dynamic of Felicity to the Green Team (or Team Arrow or whatever you want to call it). I like the banter, I loved her challenging Oliver (which totally surprises him I think) and I definitely love the ethical discussions her presence forces. Good stuff there.

James Callis was wasted on another underdeveloped Villain of the Week epiosode (he had less screentime than Thea!). Carissa, the episode was awkward and embarrassing enough without Diggle/Oliver complimenting Felicity at the event. Felicity was great. I overwhelmingly prefer the toned down make-up for Felicity.

So excited to see the addition of Roy. I do wonder how long it's going to take to for him to put on a red hood and join Oliver as Speedy 1/Red Arrow/Arsenal/Red Hood. I know a lot of people think that Thea is going to be Speedy (there have been more than few clues), but I don't know... It just feels to expected.